Spending on financial intelligence came under the spotlight during the Budget debate on the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

The Financial Intelligence Unit has been allocated $1.6 million for 2017-8, up from $1.5 million last year.

During the House of Assembly debate, Shadow Attorney-General Michael Scott questioned the money spent on investigations connected to former premier Ewart Brown.

“We know that $400,000 has been allocated to the civil action in Boston and that is open ended and still running,” Mr Scott said.

“We know that the atmosphere we are currently in is about the much published criminal investigation that has been going on which was the subject of the Commission of Inquiry.”

It has been stated that the criminal investigation, which has been ongoing for six years, involved several millions of dollars without a charge having been made.

Health minister Jeanne Atherden, speaking for the One Bermuda Alliance in the absence of Attorney-General Trevor Moniz, explained the purpose of the Financial Intelligence Agency.

“In continuance of the Government’s efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, the FIA was established under the Financial Intelligence Agency Act 2007,” she said.

“The FIA is the independent agency authorised to receive, gather, store, analyse and disseminate information relating to suspected proceeds of crime and potential financing of terrorism, which is received in the form of a suspicious activity report. The FIA is empowered to disseminate such information to the Bermuda Police Service and Foreign Intelligence Authorities.”

The Ministry of Legal Affairs was allocated a 1.47 per cent increase from the 2016-17 budget. A total of $6,203,000 was allocated to ministry headquarters, representing a rise of 1 per cent from the previous year.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers saw a 6 per cent increase to $4,808,000.

Ms Atherden said: “A principal focus will continue to be on the development of Bermudians in Chambers particularly in using senior counsel to assist junior counsel with advice and guidance on advisory and litigation matters.”

During questions, Mr Scott raised the issue of inadequate working space for the judiciary. He said: “This important second pillar of the constitutional set-up, which is the judiciary, forms a vital part of the constitution framework and the delivery of services, and yet we have heard nothing in the presentation today, unhappily, that addresses the whole question of the housing for the judiciary in proper housing.

“At the moment all members of the Bar, the Attorney-General’s Chambers will be aware of the scattering of the judicial staff and judging staff across alternate living spaces.”

Ms Atherden said she was not in a position to answer the question in the absence of Mr Moniz but said it had been noted. Ms Atherden acknowledged the importance of the judiciary and its need to have adequate working space.

Both the Ministry of Legal Affairs headquarters and the Attorney-General Chambers heads were approved in the House with no objections.